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could get in touch by telephone with the health visitors concerned. Meetings were
held with the almoners at which problems of mutual interest were discussed and the
good relations that existed with the almoners were well maintained.
Sohool
health
service
It has, fortunately, been possible to improve the arrangements for the provision
of physiotherapy at the schools for physically handicapped children. At The
Venetian School, which is situated near to King's College Hospital, arrangements
have been made for the physiotherapy to be carried out in a room in the school by
a physiotherapist from the hospital. At the Caldwell School, which is situated near
to the Belgrave Hospital, arrangements have been made for all the children requiring
physiotherapy to be treated at the Belgrave Hospital. These arrangements have
resulted in the children receiving more complete treatment and have saved considerably
in travelling time and the expense of sending children to various hospitals
in London.
Unfortunately, the facilities for tonsils and adenoids operations at St. George's
Dispensary have ceased, but there has been an increase in the facilities at the South
Western Hospital to which many cases are referred. There has been some further
decline in the number of children attending minor ailment clinics and the times of
the sessions have been reduced accordingly.
The Voluntary Committees of the Lambeth and Norwood School Treatment
Centres intimated their desire to give up the administration of the centres and
arrangements were accordingly made for the transfer of these centres to the Council.
The routine audiometer testing of all school children has been continued. A
new audiology session has been opened at St. George's Dispensary. This has improved
the follow.up services for the children found to be deaf and facilitated the provision
of hearing aids.
The Brixton Child Guidance Unit was opened in the later part of the year.
This should prove a most valuable asset in the division as there has in the past been
a long waiting list at the Maudsley Hospital and children in urgent need of treatment
have had to wait for several months.
Welfare
of old
people
The Divisional Health Committee has been much concerned over the problem
of the aged and chronic sick. A conference was called by the Committee in March
to which all organisations in the division connected with the problem were invited.
The conference provided a valuable opportunity for all interested in the subject to
get to know each other and to ensure full co.operation. The Old People's Welfare
Association in each borough agreed to act as the co.ordinating body between the
organisations concerned. The District Nursing Association, health visitors and home
helps have continued to give assistance to the aged and chronic sick in their own
homes. Unfortunately, the laundry provided by the Bermondsey Borough Council
has had to be closed and thus additional work has been thrown on the home helps
who have to do much laundry work in the homes.
Recuperative
holidays
There has still been a steady demand for recuperative holidays. As a result of
the necessity to ensure economy the period of holidays for school children has,
whenever possible, been restricted to two weeks, and consequently expenditure was
kept within the financial limits laid down, although more children were sent away.
There has still been difficulty in obtaining suitable accommodation for mothers and
babies. The increased demand for recuperative holidays for adults has, however,
been adequately met.
Division 9, comprising the boroughs of Battersea and Wandsworth.
Dr. Bertha E. A. Sharpe reports:—
Introduction
Although the work of the division has made steady progress, there are no
grounds for complacency and there are manifest opportunities for the development
of and improvement in the local health services offered by the new organisation
referred to later in this report.